IFTTT lets the Amazon Echo work outside its cylinder

The Amazon Echo now works outside its black cylinder. Using the new Amazon Alexa Channel on IFTTT, you can create recipes to send Shopping List or To-do List items to services such as Evernote, Twitter, Gmail, or Google Drive. IFTTT, formerly known as If This Then That, lets unrelated apps or services talk to each other.

For instance, I just configured the Amazon Alexa Channel to send any items added to the Echo’s Shopping List to my iOS Reminders app. Cell phone access can be spotty inside a grocery store, especially toward the back of the store. Sometimes the Amazon Echo app can’t connect, and I can’t see my shopping list. With this new recipe, I can access my list either on the Amazon Echo app or the iOS Reminders app.

For more information, visit the IFTTT blog. To get started creating recipes for the Echo, visit the Amazon Alexa Channel. There are 54 combinations you can play with.

It’s good to see Alexa’s usefulness being stretched more and more. I’m looking forward to the day when I can have Alexa interactively take messages on my phone, screen telemarketers, and let me know when an important client calls.